Network caching for hierachincal content

Abstract

A method and apparatus for caching content are described including storing content on a content server, differentiating between pieces of content and storing a portion of the differentiated content at a cache server proximate to a user.

1 . A method for caching content, said method comprising:
 storing content on a content server;   differentiating between pieces of content; and   storing a portion of said differentiated content at a cache server proximate to a user.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a user for differentiated content stored at a proximate cache server; and   downloading said differentiated content from said proximate cache server to a local storage device of said user immediately or based on bandwidth availability.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a user for differentiated content stored at said content server;   downloading said differentiated content from said content server to a proximate cache server immediately or based on bandwidth availability; and   further downloading said differentiated content from said proximate cache server to a local storage device of said user immediately or based on bandwidth availability.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising determining if additional differentiated content is required by said user. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising determining if additional differentiated content is required by said user. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for caching content, comprising:
 means for storing content on a content server;   means for differentiating between pieces of content; and   means for storing a portion of said differentiated content at a cache server proximate to a user.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a request from a user for differentiated content stored at a proximate cache server; and   means for downloading said differentiated content from said proximate cache server to a local storage device of said user immediately or based on bandwidth availability.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a request from a user for differentiated content stored at said content server;   means for downloading said differentiated content from said content server to a proximate cache server immediately or based on bandwidth availability; and   means for further downloading said differentiated content from said proximate cache server to a local storage device of said user immediately or based on bandwidth availability.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising means for determining if additional differentiated content is required by said user. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising means for determining if additional differentiated content is required by said user. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for differentiating content is provided by a service provider. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for differentiating content is provided via a user interface by a user. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for differentiating content is provided by a content provider.